Flintoff named in Chennai Super Kings' preliminary squad

Andrew Flintoff has been named in Chennai Super Kings' preliminary squad for the 2010 Champions League, even though he is still recovering from the knee injury sustained in last year's Ashes series.

If he proves his fitness, he will be part of Chennai’s final 15-man squad for the lucrative Twenty20 competition in South Africa, and miss Lancashire’s final two Championship matches of the season.

The Indian Premier League club paid $1.5m for the former England captain in 2009, making him the most expensive player alongside Kevin Pietersen.

Flintoff, who has been batting in the nets and aims to be back bowling for Lancashire before the end of the season said: “I spoke to the Chennai coach Stephen Fleming about a week and a half ago, told him where I was at with my fitness and that I would love to represent Chennai again.

“The Champions League is massive but my main incentive now to get out and play for Lancashire. I have to get out on the field for to put myself in a position to represent Chennai.”